Methods and apparatuses for downlink control information transmission and receiving

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to methods and apparatuses for downlink control information (DCI) transmission and receiving in a wireless communication system. A DCI configuration parameter can be first transmitted to a terminal device; and then DCI is transmitted to the terminal device, wherein the DCI configuration parameter indicates time-frequency resources for the DCI. With embodiments of the present disclosure, the UE could perform a flexible DCI monitoring according to the DCI configuration parameter and thus it may support the DCI monitoring occasion change due to numerology and scheduling unit size.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 16/475,834, filed on Jul. 3, 2019, which is aNational Stage of International Application No. PCT/CN2017/070309, filedon Jan. 5, 2017.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The non-limiting and exemplary embodiments of the present disclosuregenerally relate to the field of wireless communication techniques, andmore particularly relate to methods and apparatuses for downlink controlinformation (DCI) transmission and receiving in a wireless communicationsystem.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

New radio access system, which is called as new RAT (NR) system ornetwork for short, is the next generation communication system. In RadioAccess Network (RAN) #71 meeting for the third generation PartnershipProject (3GPP) working group, study of NR system was approved. The NRsystem will consider frequency ranging up to 100 Ghz with an object of asingle technical framework addressing all usage scenarios, requirementsand deployment scenarios defined in Technical Report TR 38.913, whichinclude requirements such as enhanced mobile broadband, massivemachine-type communications, ultra reliable and low latencycommunications.

Especially, in the NR network, different numerologies will coexist inthe same carrier and a mini-slot will be introduced to carryUltra-reliable low latency communication (URLLC) traffic. As a result,DCI monitoring may be performed per symbol based on the specificnumerology. Thus, a terminal device like user equipment (UE) needs toknow when to monitor the DCI for scheduling related operations.

In current LTE system, DCI monitoring is performed per subframe or perslot if the UE is in on duration of the discontinuous reception (DRX)active state. The DRX periodicity can be configured by higher layers.

However, with the current DCI monitoring solution in LTE, it cannotsupport the DCI monitoring occasion change due to numerology andscheduling unit size.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In patent cooperation treaty (PCT) application publication No.WO2016190970A1, there were proposed techniques for selecting datacommunications with shortened time duration wherein a two-stage grantfor communication scheduling was introduced, the first stage grant couldinclude an indication to activate/deactivate ultra-low latency (ULL)communication.

In US application US20160119969A1, there was proposed a solution for MACenhancement for concurrent legacy and enhanced component carrier (ECC)operation, wherein a two stage Semi-Persistent Scheduling (SPS) solutionwas introduced and a first stage grant could contain parameters that maynot change much over the course of a given SPS instance while the secondstage grant could contain the actual resource for the SPS scheduling.

In another PCT application publication No. WO2016069270A1, there wasproposed another two-stage PDCCH wherein a fast DCI could include a DCIflag and DCI format size indicator to indicate the existence and thesize of the slow DCI in the same TTI.

However, none of the above solutions can address the problems aspresented in the back ground.

To this end, in the present disclosure, there is provided a new solutionfor DCI transmission and receiving in a wireless communication system,to mitigate or at least alleviate at least part of the issues in theprior art.

According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provideda DCI transmission in a wireless communication system. The methodcomprises transmitting a DCI configuration parameter to a terminaldevice; and transmitting DCI to the terminal device, wherein the DCIconfiguration parameter indicates time-frequency resources for the DCI.

According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, there isprovided a method of DCI receiving in a wireless communication system.The method comprises receiving a DCI configuration parameter at aterminal device; and receiving DCI within time-frequency resourcesindicated by the DCI configuration parameter at the terminal device.

According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, there is providedan apparatus of DCI transmission in a wireless communication system. Theapparatus comprises: a parameter transmission module and a DCItransmission module. The parameter transmission module may be configuredto transmit a DCI configuration parameter to a terminal device. The DCItransmission module may be configured to transmit DCI to the terminaldevice, wherein the DCI configuration parameter indicates time-frequencyresources for the DCI

According to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, there isprovided an apparatus of DCI receiving in a wireless communicationsystem. The apparatus comprises: a parameter receiving module and a DCIreceiving module. The parameter receiving module may be configured toreceive DCI configuration parameter at a terminal device. The DCIreceiving module may be configured to receive DCI within time-frequencyresources indicated by the DCI configuration parameter at the terminaldevice.

According to a fifth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provideda computer-readable storage media with computer program code embodiedthereon, the computer program code configured to, when executed, causean apparatus to perform actions in the method according to anyembodiment in the first aspect.

According to a sixth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provideda computer-readable storage media with computer program code embodiedthereon, the computer program code configured to, when executed, causean apparatus to perform actions in the method according to anyembodiment in the second aspect.

According to a seventh aspect of the present disclosure, there isprovided a computer program product comprising a computer-readablestorage media according to the fifth aspect.

According to an eighth aspect of the present disclosure, there isprovided a computer program product comprising a computer-readablestorage media according to the sixth aspect.

With embodiments of the present disclosure, a DCI configurationparameter can be first transmitted to the terminal device, and then theDCI is transmitted to the terminal device. Thus, the terminal device maymonitor the transmitted DCI based on the received DCI configurationparameter, which means a flexible DCI monitoring solution and thus cansupport the DCI monitoring occasion change due to numerology andscheduling unit size.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other features of the present disclosure will become moreapparent through detailed explanation on the embodiments as illustratedin the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings,throughout which like reference numbers represent same or similarcomponents and wherein:

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a flow chart of a method of DCItransmission according to an example embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates DCI occurrence occasions with differentnumerologies according to example embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 3A to 3C schematically illustrate DCI occurrence occasions atdifferent levels according to examples embodiments of the presentdisclosure;

FIGS. 4A and 4C schematically illustrate DCI occurrence occasions withfrequency hopping according to example embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 5A schematically illustrates a two-DCI solution for enhanced mobilebroadband (eMBB) and URLLC multiplexing in which control and data aremultiplexed in time domain according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 5B schematically illustrates a two-DCI solution for eMBB and URLLCmultiplexing in which control and data are multiplexed in frequencydomain according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 6A to 6D schematically illustrate two-DCI solutions for eMBB andURLLC multiplexing according to an embodiment of the present disclosure,wherein control region and data are multiplexed in time domain and theeMBB and the URLL are multiplexed in TDM, in TDM by symbol, in FDM, andin both FDM and TDM, respectively;

FIGS. 7A to 7D schematically illustrate two-DCI solutions for eMBB andURLLC multiplexing according to an embodiment of the present disclosure,wherein control region and data are multiplexed in frequency domain andthe eMBB and the URLL are multiplexed in TDM, in TDM by symbol, in FDM,and in both FDM and TDM, respectively;

FIG. 8 schematically illustrates a two-DCI solution for eMBB and URLLCmultiplexing according to an embodiment of the present disclosure,wherein two segments are used and the second segment is punctured or notpunctured without re-transmission;

FIG. 9 schematically illustrates a two-DCI solution for eMBB and URLLCmultiplexing according to an embodiment of the present disclosure,wherein two segments are used and the second segment is punctured withretransmission;

FIG. 10 schematically illustrates an example two-DCI division solutionaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 11 schematically illustrates a flow chart of a method for DCIreceiving according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 12 schematically illustrates a block diagram of an apparatus forDCI transmission according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 13 schematically illustrates a block diagram of an apparatus forDCI receiving according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 14 further illustrates a simplified block diagram of an apparatus1410 that may be embodied as or comprised in a serving node like a basestation in a wireless network and an apparatus 1420 that may be embodiedas or comprised in a terminal device like UE as described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, the solution as provided in the present disclosure will bedescribed in details through embodiments with reference to theaccompanying drawings. It should be appreciated that these embodimentsare presented only to enable those skilled in the art to betterunderstand and implement the present disclosure, not intended to limitthe scope of the present disclosure in any manner.

In the accompanying drawings, various embodiments of the presentdisclosure are illustrated in block diagrams, flow charts and otherdiagrams. Each block in the flowcharts or blocks may represent a module,a program, or a part of code, which contains one or more executableinstructions for performing specified logic functions, and in thepresent disclosure, a dispensable block is illustrated in a dotted line.Besides, although these blocks are illustrated in particular sequencesfor performing the steps of the methods, as a matter of fact, they maynot necessarily be performed strictly according to the illustratedsequence. For example, they might be performed in reverse sequence orsimultaneously, which is dependent on natures of respective operations.It should also be noted that block diagrams and/or each block in theflowcharts and a combination of thereof may be implemented by adedicated hardware-based system for performing specifiedfunctions/operations or by a combination of dedicated hardware andcomputer instructions.

Generally, all terms used in the claims are to be interpreted accordingto their ordinary meaning in the technical field, unless explicitlydefined otherwise herein. All references to “a/an/the/said [element,device, component, means, step, etc.]” are to be interpreted openly asreferring to at least one instance of said element, device, component,means, unit, step, etc., without excluding a plurality of such devices,components, means, units, steps, etc., unless explicitly statedotherwise. Besides, the indefinite article “a/an” as used herein doesnot exclude a plurality of such steps, units, modules, devices, andobjects, and etc.

Additionally, in a context of the present disclosure, a user equipment(UE) may refer to a terminal, a Mobile Terminal (MT), a subscriberstation, a portable subscriber station, Mobile Station (MS), or anAccess Terminal (AT), and some or all of the functions of the UE, theterminal, the MT, the SS, the portable subscriber station, the MS, orthe AT may be included. Furthermore, in the context of the presentdisclosure, the term “BS” may represent, e.g., a node B (NodeB or NB),an evolved NodeB (eNodeB or eNB), gNB (Node B in NR), a radio header(RH), a remote radio head (RRH), a relay, or a low power node such as afemto, a pico, and so on.

As mentioned hereinbefore, none of the prior arts can support the DCImonitoring occasion change due to numerology and scheduling unit size.Thus, in the present disclosure, there is proposed a new DCItransmission and receiving solution. In the proposed solution, a DCIconfiguration parameter can be first transmitted to the terminal device,and then the DCI is transmitted to the terminal device. Thus, theterminal device may monitor the DCI based on the received DCIconfiguration parameter, which means a flexible DCI monitoring solutionand thus can support the DCI monitoring occasion change due tonumerology and scheduling unit size.

Hereinafter, reference will be made to FIGS. 1 to 14 to describe the DCItransmission and receiving solution.

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a flow chart of a method 100 of DCItransmission in a wireless communication system according to anembodiment of the present disclosure. The method 100 can be performed ata serving node, for example a BS, like a node B (NodeB or NB).

As illustrated in FIG. 1 , first in step 101, a DCI configurationparameter is transmitted to a terminal device, and the DCI configurationparameter indicates time-frequency resources for a following DCI.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the DCI configurationparameter comprises at least one of: a numerology to be used; a validduration for the DCI configuration parameter; a duration for a singleDCI; and DCI occurrence occasions.

In NR system, different numerologies might be used, whereas differentnumerologies might use different transmission parameters, for exampledifferent subcarrier spacings. The different subcarrier spacings meandifferent symbol lengths. For example, for 15 kHz subcarrier spacing,its symbol will have a time length four times as that for 60 kHzsubcarrier spacing, as illustrated in FIG. 2 . Thus, the numerology tobe used can be used to define a symbol.

The valid duration for the DCI configuration parameter indicates aduration in which the DCI configuration parameter is valid. The validduration can be a number of symbols (for example, numerology specific)or a number of frames (for example numerology common). In an embodimentof the present disclosure, the values of the start of the valid durationcan be an absolute value with respect to the reference numerology. Forexample, if the configuration signaling is received in symbol 7 of thesubframe 2 of frame 6, the starting can be defined as symbol 0 ofsubframe 0 of frame 6. The definition of the absolute value can bepredetermined or configured by a high layer signaling like RRCsignaling. In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the firstsymbol carrying the configuration signaling can be used as the start ofthe valid duration no matter whether the configuration signaling isconfigured by DCI or by a RRC signaling.

The duration for a single DCI indicates the length of the DCI, it can bea number of symbols. Thus, parameter may indicate the length of DCI. Itis also possible to use a predetermined length and in such a case, thisparameter can be omitted.

DCI occurrence occasions indicate occasions at which DCI occurs inframes. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the DCI occurrenceoccasions can be at a slot level, at subframe level (multi-slot), or atsymbol level, as illustrated in FIGS. 3A to 3C respectively.

The DCI occurrence occasions can be periodic. That is to say, the DCImonitoring will be performed periodically, for example every apredetermined number of slots, every a predetermined number of symbols.FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B illustrate two examples of periodic DCI occurrenceoccasions. In FIG. 3A, the DCI occurrence occasions are per slot; inother words, the DCI monitoring is performed every slot, like in slots0, 1, . . . . In FIG. 3B, the DCI occurrence occasions are permulti-slot (e.g., 2 slots, a subframe); that is to say, the DCImonitoring can be performed per multi-slot. In such a case, the DCIoccurrence occasions can be indicated by the periodicity and an offsetof the DCI occurrence. The periodicity can be, for example, apredetermined number of symbols, slots, or frames.

Alternatively, the DCI occurrence occasions can also be aperiodic. FIG.3C illustrates an aperiodic DCI occurrence occasion. In FIG. 3C, the DCIoccurrence occasions are per symbol but aperiodic. In such a case, itmay predefine a set of possible aperiodic patterns in specification orpre-configure the possible set of aperiodic patterns by a higher layersignaling. In the set of aperiodic patterns, each aperiodic patterncontains one or more symbols within a valid duration. In such a way, thenetwork can inform the aperiodic pattern index to the terminal device inDCI configuration parameter.

It should be noticed that although the DCI occurrence occasions per slotand multi-slot in FIGS. 3A and 3B are periodic and the DCI occurrenceoccasions per symbol in FIG. 3C is aperiodic, the present disclosure isnot limited thereto. In fact, in each of the DCI occurrence occasionsper slot, per multi-slot, per symbol, the DCI occurrence occasions canbe periodic or aperiodic.

As another alternative, the DCI occurrence occasions can be acombination of periodic and aperiodic occasions. In other word, in atime period, it contains an aperiodic pattern including one or moresymbols but the aperiodic pattern will repeat by the time period in thevalid duration. In such a case, the DCI occurrence occasions can beindicated by the periodicity and the aperiodic pattern.

In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the DCI configurationparameter may comprise at least one of: frequency domain resource unit;and frequency hopping pattern.

The frequency domain resource unit indicates the resource unit to beused for DCI in the frequency domain, it could be a control channelelement (CCE), a subband, a physical resource block (PRB), or physicalresource group (REG). In addition, the frequency domain resource unitcan be numerology common, which mean the frequency domain resource unitis same for all numerologies, or numerology specific, which mean thatdifferent numerologies might use different frequency domain resourceunits.

The frequency hopping pattern indicates a pattern in which the frequencyhopping is used. This parameter is required when the frequency hoppingpattern is used. An explicit signaling can be used to indicate thefrequency resource in each DCI occurrence occasion. The hopping patterncan be a predetermined pattern which is known at both network and theterminal device, or a pattern configured by the network. The hoppingpattern can be used to calculate the frequency resource position.

FIGS. 4A to 4C illustrate use of frequency hopping in different DCIoccurrence occasions according to embodiments of the present disclosure.DCI occurrence occasions as illustrated in FIG. 4A to FIG. 4C are samewith those in FIG. 3A to 3C in the time domain but in the frequencydomain, the frequency hopping is used for the DCI occurrence occasions.It should be noticed that although the DCI occurrence occasions per slotand per multi-slot in FIGS. 4A and 4B are periodic and the DCIoccurrence occasions per symbol in FIG. 4C is aperiodic, the presentdisclosure is not limited thereto. In fact, in each of the DCIoccurrence occasions per slot, per multi-slot, per symbol, the DCIoccurrence occasions can be periodic or aperiodic.

Reference is made back to FIG. 1 , in step 102, the DCI can betransmitted to the terminal device. With the DCI configurationparameter, the terminal device may learn the time-frequency resource forthe DCI from the DCI configuration parameter and monitor the DCI withinthe time-frequency resource.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the DCI configurationparameter can be transmitted to the terminal device by a higher layersignaling like a RRC signaling. That is to say, in the two-stagesolution, for the first stage, the higher layer signaling can be used totransmit the DCI configuration indicating the time-frequency resourcefor the following DCI in the second stage.

In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the DCI configurationparameter can be transmitted to the terminal device dynamically byanother DCI. In such a case, a first DCI is used to transmit the DCIconfiguration parameter for the following DCI. The actual datascheduling related information is located in the following DCI.

In addition, considering the payload size of the first DCI, it is alsopossible to use a combination of DCI and high layer signaling. That isto say, a part of DCI configuration parameter can be transmitted by DCIand another part of the DCI configuration parameter can be transmittedby a high layer signaling.

In the two stage DCI solution, the first DCI can be cell specific, beamspecific, TRP specific, common for a UE group or UE specific. In anembodiment of the present disclosure, the DCI can be scrambled with aspecific RNTI. The periodicity of the first DCI can be larger than thesecond DCI. The occurrence occasions of the first DCI can predeterminedor configured by a higher layer signaling such a RRC signaling. Thefirst DCI can be located in common search space. Or alternative, thefirst DCI can also be located in UE specific search space.

It shall be noted that there may be a valid duration for the DCIconfiguration parameter but there is no any restriction on DCIconfiguration parameter and scheduling unit size. For example, withslot-level DCI monitoring configuration, UE can also be configured witha scheduling unit starting and ending from the symbol boundary ratherthan a slot boundary. In such a case, the remaining blank symbols can beallocated to other UE with symbol level DCI monitoring configuration. Oralternatively, the remaining blank symbols can also be allocated toother UE with slot-level or multi-slot level DCI configuration.

In a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the DCI configurationparameter may comprise at least two sets of parameters, from which theterminal device can select a set of parameters based on its requestedtraffic types. In other words, DCI monitoring can be adapted at UE sideafter resource requirement by means of random accessprocedure/scheduling request (SR).

After a random access procedure, the terminal device starts DL/ULtransmission/reception with the eNB. Thus, the DCI monitoring behaviorcan be based on the reason for random access. If URLLC schedulingrequest is the reason for random access, the DCI monitoring should bemore frequent. If eMBB scheduling request is the reason for randomaccess, the DCI monitoring can be less frequent. By providing two ormore different sets of DCI configuration parameters predefined orconfigured by RRC signaling, the terminal device could choose thesuitable parameter set based on its request traffic type. In such a way,it is possible for UE to perform DCI monitoring based on its requiredtraffic type.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, there is also providedanother two-DCI solution for different traffic type multiplexing. Inthese solutions, two DCIs are used, one of which can be called asprepositive control region (DCI), the other of which can be called aspostpostive control region (DCI). The prepositive control region can beused to indicate resource that is allocated to a first traffic type(such as eMBB traffic) but is to be occupied by a second traffic type(such as URLLC traffic), the postpositive control region can be used toindicate resource that allocated to a first traffic type (such as eMBBtraffic) but was already occupied by the second traffic type (such asabrupt URLLC traffic). Hereinafter, the URLLC traffic and the eMBBtraffic will be taken as examples of different traffic types to describethe two-DCI solution; however, those skilled in the art can readily knowthat the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the prepositive controlregion can include at least one of following fields:

-   -   a field to indicate puncture or rate-matching around some        time-frequency resource in a following pattern of time-frequency        resource;    -   a field to schedule on a following pattern of time-frequency        resource (e.g. can be contiguous or non-contiguous        symbols/frequency bands);    -   a field to indicate re-transmission of previous punctured part;    -   a field to indicate the end of one transmission block.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the postpositive region caninclude at least one of following fields:

-   -   a field to indicate puncture or no puncture of some        time-frequency resources in the previous pattern of        time-frequency resource    -   a field to indicate re-transmission or no re-transmission of        previous punctured part    -   a field to indicate the end of one transmission block

It shall be noted that patterns of time-frequency resource inprepositive and postpositive control regions can be complementary. Forexample, the two patterns can compose a whole time-frequency resource ofa region (subframe). Alternatively, the two patterns can be alsopartially overlapped.

FIG. 5A illustrates a two-DCI solution for different traffic typemultiplexing according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Theresource of eMBB can be split into two parts as illustrated in FIG. 5 ,the first one is to be scheduled by the prepostive control region andthe other one is to be scheduled by the postpostive control region. Forsome resources such as first several symbols, the scheduling of URLLCcan be known, thus the eMBB UE can be indicated of rate-matching orpuncture for the occupied resource in the prepositive control region ifit is occupied by the URLLC. While, for some resources, for example whenthe URLLC occurs abruptly, the scheduling of URLLC cannot be known inthe prepositive control region, and thus the eMBB UE can be indicated topuncture for the occupied resources in the postpositive control region.

In FIG. 5A, it is shown that the control regions and the data regionsare multiplexed in the time domain. In another embodiment of the presentdisclosure, the control regions and data regions can be multiplexed inthe frequency domain. FIG. 5B illustrates a two-DCI solution fordifferent traffic type multiplexing according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure. FIG. 5B is similar with FIG. 5A but differs in thatin FIG. 5B, the control regions and data regions are multiplexed in thefrequency domain.

It should also be noted that resource indicated to eMBB UE can beresource occupied by URLLC or resource reserved as empty for forwardphase.

In addition, it shall also be noted that the split resource parts canalso be multiplexed in many different ways, which will be described withreference to FIG. 6A to FIG. 7D.

FIG. 6A illustrates a two-DCI solution according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure, in which the control region and the data region aremultiplexed in TDM and two split parts are multiplexed in time domainmultiplexing (TDM). FIG. 6A is substantially same as that in FIG. 5A,and in the two DCI solution, the part scheduled by the prepostivecontrol region is multiplexed with the part scheduled by the postpostivecontrol region in TDM.

FIG. 6B illustrates another two-DCI solution according to an embodimentof the present disclosure, wherein the control region and the dataregion are multiplexed in TDM and the two split parts are multiplexed inTDM by symbols. Compared with that illustrated in FIG. 6A, in FIG. 6B,the part scheduled by the prepostive control region is multiplexed withthe part scheduled by the postpostive control region also in TDM but bysymbol; that is to say, in FIG. 6B, the symbols belonging to each partare not continuous.

FIG. 6C illustrates a further two-DCI solution according to anembodiment of the present disclosure, wherein the control region and thedata region are multiplexed in TDM and the two split parts aremultiplexed in frequency domain multiplexing (FDM). Different from thatillustrated in FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B, in FIG. 6C the part scheduled by theprepostive control region is multiplexed with the part scheduled by thepostpostive control region in FDM, i.e., they respectively occupydifferent frequency domain resources.

FIG. 6D illustrates a further two-DCI solution according to anembodiment of the present disclosure, wherein the control region and thedata region are multiplexed in TDM and the two split parts aremultiplexed in TDM and frequency domain multiplexing (FDM). Asillustrated in FIG. 6D, the part scheduled by the prepostive controlregion is multiplexed with the part scheduled by the postpostive controlregion in a combination of TDM and FDM.

FIGS. 7A to 7D illustrate two-DCI solutions according to an embodimentof the present disclosure, wherein the control region and the dataregion are multiplexed in FDM and two split parts are multiplexed indifferent manners respectively. In FIG. 7A, the two split parts aremultiplexed in TDM; in FIG. 7B, the two split parts are multiplexed inTDM by symbol; in FIG. 7C, the two split parts are multiplexed in FDM;and FIG. 7D, the two split parts are multiplexed in TDM and FDM.

The two split parts can be decoded in any suitable manner. In anembodiment of the present disclosure, the two split part can beseparately decoded. In another embodiment of the present disclosure, thetwo parts can be cascaded to decode, i.e. when UE receives the twoparts, then it decodes them immediately or it decodes them after UEreceiving the postpositive control region.

In a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the resource for eMBBcan be split for several parts, wherein first parts are to be scheduledby the preposition control region and seconds parts are to be scheduledby the postpostive control region. The several parts are further dividedinto two segments in the time domain, i.e., segment 1 and segment 2. Forsome resources such as first several symbols, the scheduling of URLLCcan be known, thus the eMBB UE can be indicated of rate-matching orpuncture for the occupied resource in the prepositive control region ifit is occupied by the URLLC. While, for some resources, for example whenthe URLLC occurs abruptly, the scheduling of URLLC cannot be known inthe prepositive control region, and thus the eMBB UE can be indicated topuncturing or not puncturing for the occupied resources in thepostpositive control region. For some resources in the second segment,they may be reserved for re-transmission or be punctured part oftransmission in the first segment. This punctured part can be forexample a subset of the first segment, and the remaining of the firstsegment can be used for new transmission. FIG. 8 illustrates a two-DCIsolution wherein there is no re-transmission in the second segment;while FIG. 9 illustrates a two-DCI solution wherein, in the secondsegment, there is a re-transmission of punctured part of the firstsegment as indicated by blocks filled with cross lines.

In addition, similarly to solutions as illustrate in FIGS. 6A to 7D, thefirst parts and the second parts can be multiplexed in time and/orfrequency domain. Moreover, these parts can be cascaded to decode, i.e.when UE receives the two parts, then it decodes them immediately or itdecodes them after UE receiving the postpositive control region.

In a further aspect of the present disclosure, one transmission blockcan also be split into several parts. The first part can be scheduledby, for example, prepositive control region, and the second part can bescheduled by, for example, postpositive control region. The UE candecode after receiving the whole transmission block. The end of thetransmission can be indicated in a control region. For example, UE mayobtain frequency and time domain mapping for data, then obtain themapping over resources preempted by URLLC, and after that it decodes theblock.

In another embodiment of the present disclosure, preemption of URLLC canbe indicated implicitly. For example, it is possible to use tracking RSto implicitly indicate preemption of URLLC. For example, if the trackingRS is interrupted on some symbols, this means these symbols are occupiedby URLLC, and thus this can be used to indicate preemption of URLLC.

In a further embodiment of the present disclosure, DCI can be cascadedwith K-stage DCI. For example, a first stage DCI contains resourceallocation field; the second stage DCI contains information of MCS andother information for data transmission (which may also contain detailedinformation of resource allocation). In such a case, the UE can cascadesthe two-stage DCI for control information.

In addition, the first stage DCI can be shared by different UEs, e.g.URLLC UE and eMBB UE, as illustrated in FIG. 10 . The URLLC UE couldobtain the shared first stage DCI and the second stage DCI for controland/or data transmission. The eMBB UE could obtain the shared firststage DCI for the resource allocation for puncturing or rate-matching.The shared common DCI can be scrambled with shared RNTI, e.g. a resourceallocation RNTI calculated considering the resource index.

In a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the first DCI caninclude full scheduling information; while the second DCI may includeindication of the resource occupied by URLLC or not. In addition, thesecond DCI can be reduced for some cases. For example, when no MCSneeded, the second DCI can be omitted. If the resource issemi-statically reserved for URLLC and known to eMBB UE, the resourceallocation is no needed and the second DCI can be reduced as well. Inanother case, if the resource is known by eMBB UE, and thetime-frequency of remaining resource is fixed, then only an indicationis needed in the second DCI, which indicates whether the time-frequencyresource is occupied. If yes, the resource is for re-transmission orjust keeps punctured; if not, the resource will be used for new datatransmission.

It shall be noted that although the aspects and embodiments aredescribed separately, they can also be combined together to achieve morebenefits.

FIG. 11 further schematically illustrates a flow chart of method for DCIreceiving according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure.The method 1100 can be implemented at a terminal device, for example UE,or other like terminal devices.

As illustrated in FIG. 11 , the method starts from step 11, in which theterminal device like UE receiving a DCI configuration parameter. The DCIconfiguration parameter indicates the time-frequency resources for thefollowing DCI.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the DCI configurationparameter may comprise at least one of: numerology to be used; a validduration for the DCI configuration parameters; a duration for a singleDCI; DCI occurrence occasions.

In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the DCI configurationparameter may comprise at least one of: a frequency domain resourceunit; and a frequency hopping pattern.

In a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the receiving DCIconfiguration parameter may comprise receiving the DCI configurationparameter in a higher layer signaling.

In a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the receiving DCIconfiguration parameter may comprise receiving the DCI configurationparameter in another DCI.

In addition, considering the payload size of the first DCI, it is alsopossible to use a combination of DCI and high layer signaling. That isto say, a part of DCI configuration parameter can be received by a firstDCI and another part of the DCI configuration parameter can betransmitted by a high layer signaling.

The first DCI can be cell specific, beam specific, TRP specific, commonfor a UE group or UE specific. In an embodiment of the presentdisclosure, the DCI can be scrambled with a specific RNTI. Theperiodicity of the first DCI can be larger than the second DCI. Theoccurrence occasions of the first DCI can predetermined or configured bya higher layer signaling such a RRC signaling. The first DCI can belocated in common search space. Or alternative, the first DCI can alsobe located in UE specific search space.

Next, in step 1102, DCI is received within time-frequency resourcesindicated by the DCI configuration parameter at the terminal device.That is to say, at the terminal device, the terminal device may performDCI monitoring based on the DCI configuration parameter, which means aflexible DCI monitoring solution and thus can support the DCI monitoringoccasion change due to numerology and scheduling unit size.

In a still further embodiment of the present disclosure, the DCIconfiguration parameter comprises at least two sets of parameters. Insuch a case, further in step 1103, the UE may select a set of parametersbased on its requested traffic types. In other words, DCI monitoring canbe adapted at UE side after resource requirement by means of randomaccess procedure/SR.

After random access procedure, the terminal device starts DL/ULtransmission/reception with the eNB. Thus, the DCI monitoring behaviorcan be based on the reason for random access. If URLLC schedulingrequest is the reason for random access, the DCI monitoring should bemore frequent. If eMBB scheduling request is the reason for randomaccess, the DCI monitoring can be less frequent. By providing two ormore different sets of DCI configuration parameters predefined orconfigured by RRC signaling, the terminal device could choose thesuitable parameter set based on its request traffic type. In such a way,it is possible for UE to perform DCI monitoring based on its requiredtraffic type.

Besides, in the present disclosure, there are also provided apparatusesfor DCI transmission and receiving at the serving node and terminaldevice in a wireless communication system respectively, which will bedescribed next with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13 .

FIG. 12 schematically illustrates a block diagram of an apparatus 1200for DCI transmission in a wireless communication system according to anembodiment of the present disclosure. The apparatus 1200 can beimplemented at a serving node, for example a BS, like a node B (NodeB orNB).

As illustrated in FIG. 12 , the apparatus 1200 may comprise a parametertransmission module 1201 and a DCI transmission module 1202. Theparameter transmission module 1201 can be configured to transmit a DCIconfiguration parameter to a terminal device. The DCI transmissionmodule 1202 can be configured to transmit DCI to the terminal device,wherein the DCI configuration parameter indicates time-frequencyresources for the DCI.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the sequence positioninformation may comprise any of: a numerology to be used; a validduration for the DCI configuration parameters; a duration for a singleDCI; DCI occurrence occasions; a frequency domain resource unit; and afrequency hopping pattern.

In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the parametertransmission module 1201 may be configured to transmit the DCIconfiguration parameter to the terminal device by a higher layersignaling.

In a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the parametertransmission module 1201 is configured to transmit the DCI configurationparameter to the terminal device dynamically by another DCI.

In a still further embodiment of the present disclosure, the another DCImay have a larger periodicity than the DCI.

In a yet further embodiment of the present disclosure, the DCIconfiguration parameter may comprise at least two sets of parameters,from which the terminal device can select a set of parameters based onits requested traffic type.

FIG. 13 further schematically illustrates a block diagram of anapparatus 1300 for DCI receiving in a wireless communication systemaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The apparatus 1300can be implemented at a terminal device, for example UE, or other liketerminal devices.

As illustrated in FIG. 13 , the apparatus 1300 may include a parameterreceiving module 1301 and a DCI receiving module 1302. The parameterreceiving module 1301 may be configured to receive DCI configurationparameter at a terminal device. The DCI receiving module 1302 can beconfigured to receive DCI within time-frequency resources indicated bythe DCI configuration parameter at a terminal device.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the sequence positioninformation may comprise any of: a numerology to be used; a validduration for the DCI configuration parameters; a duration for a singleDCI; DCI occurrence occasions; a frequency domain resource unit; and afrequency hopping pattern.

In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the parameter receivingmodule 1301 may be further configured to receive the DCI configurationparameter in a higher layer signaling.

In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the parameter receivingmodule 1301 may be further configured to receive the DCI configurationparameter in another DCI.

In a still further embodiment of the present disclosure, the another DCImay have a larger periodicity than the DCI.

In a yet further embodiment of the present disclosure, the DCIconfiguration parameter may comprise at least two sets of parameters. Insuch a case, the apparatus 1300 may further comprise a parameter setselection module 1303. The apparatus 1300 may be configured to select aset of parameters based on a traffic type requested by the terminaldevice and wherein the time-frequency resources are those indicated bythe selected set of parameters

Hereinbefore, the apparatuses 1200 and 1300 are described with referenceto FIGS. 12 and 13 . It is noted that the apparatuses 1200 and 1300 maybe configured to implement functionalities as described with referenceto FIGS. 1 to 11 . Therefore, for details about the operations ofmodules in these apparatuses, one may refer to those descriptions madewith respect to the respective steps of the methods with reference toFIGS. 1 to 11 .

It is further noted that the components of the apparatuses 1200 and 1300may be embodied in hardware, software, firmware, and/or any combinationthereof. For example, the components of apparatuses 1200 and 1300 may berespectively implemented by a circuit, a processor or any otherappropriate selection device.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the aforesaid examples areonly for illustration not limitation and the present disclosure is notlimited thereto; one can readily conceive many variations, additions,deletions and modifications from the teaching provided herein and allthese variations, additions, deletions and modifications fall theprotection scope of the present disclosure.

In addition, in some embodiment of the present disclosure, apparatuses1200 and 1300 may comprise at least one processor. The at least oneprocessor suitable for use with embodiments of the present disclosuremay include, by way of example, both general and special purposeprocessors already known or developed in the future. Apparatuses 1200and 1300 may further comprise at least one memory. The at least onememory may include, for example, semiconductor memory devices, e.g.,RAM, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memory devices. The at least onememory may be used to store program of computer executable instructions.The program can be written in any high-level and/or low-level compliableor interpretable programming languages. In accordance with embodiments,the computer executable instructions may be configured, with the atleast one processor, to cause apparatuses 1200 and 1300 to at leastperform operations according to the method as discussed with referenceto FIGS. 1 to 11 respectively.

FIG. 14 further illustrates a simplified block diagram of an apparatus1410 that may be embodied as or comprised in a serving node like a basestation in a wireless network and an apparatus 1420 that may be embodiedas or comprised in a terminal device like UE as described herein.

The apparatus 1410 comprises at least one processor 1411, such as a dataprocessor (DP) and at least one memory (MEM) 1412 coupled to theprocessor 1411. The apparatus 1410 may further comprise a transmitter TXand receiver RX 1413 coupled to the processor 1411, which may beoperable to communicatively connect to the apparatus 1420. The MEM 1412stores a program (PROG) 1414. The PROG 1414 may include instructionsthat, when executed on the associated processor 1411, enable theapparatus 1410 to operate in accordance with embodiments of the presentdisclosure, for example the method 100. A combination of the at leastone processor 1411 and the at least one MEM 1412 may form processingmeans 1415 adapted to implement various embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

The apparatus 1420 comprises at least one processor 1421, such as a DP,and at least one MEM 1422 coupled to the processor 1421. The apparatus1420 may further comprise a suitable TX/RX 1423 coupled to the processor1421, which may be operable for wireless communication with theapparatus 1410. The MEM 1422 stores a PROG 1424. The PROG 1424 mayinclude instructions that, when executed on the associated processor1421, enable the apparatus 1420 to operate in accordance with theembodiments of the present disclosure, for example to perform the method1100. A combination of the at least one processor 1421 and the at leastone MEM 1422 may form processing means 1425 adapted to implement variousembodiments of the present disclosure.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented bycomputer program executable by one or more of the processors 1411, 1421,software, firmware, hardware or in a combination thereof.

The MEMs 1412 and 1422 may be of any type suitable to the localtechnical environment and may be implemented using any suitable datastorage technology, such as semiconductor based memory devices, magneticmemory devices and systems, optical memory devices and systems, fixedmemory and removable memory, as non-limiting examples.

The processors 1411 and 1421 may be of any type suitable to the localtechnical environment, and may include one or more of general purposecomputers, special purpose computers, microprocessors, digital signalprocessors DSPs and processors based on multicore processorarchitecture, as non-limiting examples.

In addition, the present disclosure may also provide a carriercontaining the computer program as mentioned above, wherein the carrieris one of an electronic signal, optical signal, radio signal, orcomputer readable storage medium. The computer readable storage mediumcan be, for example, an optical compact disk or an electronic memorydevice like a RAM (random access memory), a ROM (read only memory),Flash memory, magnetic tape, CD-ROM, DVD, Blue-ray disc and the like.

The techniques described herein may be implemented by various means sothat an apparatus implementing one or more functions of a correspondingapparatus described with one embodiment comprises not only prior artmeans, but also means for implementing the one or more functions of thecorresponding apparatus described with the embodiment and it maycomprise separate means for each separate function, or means that may beconfigured to perform two or more functions. For example, thesetechniques may be implemented in hardware (one or more apparatuses),firmware (one or more apparatuses), software (one or more modules), orcombinations thereof. For a firmware or software, implementation may bemade through modules (e.g., procedures, functions, and so on) thatperform the functions described herein.

Exemplary embodiments herein have been described above with reference toblock diagrams and flowchart illustrations of methods and apparatuses.It will be understood that each block of the block diagrams andflowchart illustrations, and combinations of blocks in the blockdiagrams and flowchart illustrations, respectively, can be implementedby various means including computer program instructions. These computerprogram instructions may be loaded onto a general purpose computer,special purpose computer, or other programmable data processingapparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions which executeon the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus createmeans for implementing the functions specified in the flowchart block orblocks.

While this specification contains many specific implementation details,these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of anyimplementation or of what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions offeatures that may be specific to particular embodiments of particularimplementations. Certain features that are described in thisspecification in the context of separate embodiments can also beimplemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, variousfeatures that are described in the context of a single embodiment canalso be implemented in multiple embodiments separately or in anysuitable sub-combination. Moreover, although features may be describedabove as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed assuch, one or more features from a claimed combination can in some casesbe excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may bedirected to a sub-combination or variation of a sub-combination.

It will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that, as thetechnology advances, the inventive concept can be implemented in variousways. The above described embodiments are given for describing ratherthan limiting the disclosure, and it is to be understood thatmodifications and variations may be resorted to without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the disclosure as those skilled in the artreadily understand. Such modifications and variations are considered tobe within the scope of the disclosure and the appended claims. Theprotection scope of the disclosure is defined by the accompanyingclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method performed by a network device, themethod comprising: transmitting a downlink configuration parameter to aterminal device, wherein the downlink configuration parameter comprisesa first downlink control information (DCI) configuration parameterassociated with a first traffic type and a second DCI configurationparameter associated with a second traffic type; and transmitting atleast one of a first DCI and a second DCI to the terminal device,wherein the first DCI configuration parameter indicates firsttime-frequency resources for the first DCI and the second DCIconfiguration parameter indicates second time-frequency resources forthe second DCI.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first DCIconfiguration parameter or the second DCI configuration parametercomprises at least one of: a numerology to be used; a valid duration forthe first DCI configuration parameter or the second DCI configurationparameter; a duration for a single DCI; and DCI occurrence occasions. 3.The method of claim 1, wherein the first DCI configuration parameter orthe second DCI configuration parameter comprises at least one of: afrequency domain resource unit; and a frequency hopping pattern.
 4. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising transmitting the downlinkconfiguration parameter to the terminal device by a higher layersignaling.
 5. A method performed by a terminal device, the methodcomprising: receiving a downlink configuration parameter from a networkdevice, wherein the downlink configuration parameter comprises a firstdownlink control information (DCI) configuration parameter associatedwith a first traffic type and a second DCI configuration parameterassociated with a second traffic type; and receiving at least one of afirst DCI and a second DCI within time-frequency resources indicated byat least one of the first DCI configuration parameter and the second DCIconfiguration parameter.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first orsecond DCI configuration parameter comprises at least one of: anumerology to be used; a valid duration for the first or second DCIconfiguration parameters; a duration for a single DCI; DCI occurrenceoccasions; a frequency domain resource unit; and a frequency hoppingpattern.
 7. The method of claim 5 further comprising receiving thedownlink configuration parameter via a higher layer signaling.
 8. Aterminal device comprising a processor configured to receive a downlinkconfiguration parameter from a network device, wherein the downlinkconfiguration parameter comprises a first downlink control information(DCI) configuration parameter associated with a first traffic type and asecond DCI configuration parameter associated with a second traffictype; and receive at least one of the first DCI and second DCI withintime-frequency resources indicated by the at least one of the first DCIconfiguration parameter and the second DCI configuration parameter. 9.The terminal device of claim 8, wherein the first DCI configurationparameter or the second DCI configuration parameter comprises at leastone of: a numerology to be used; a valid duration for the first DCIconfiguration parameter or the second DCI configuration parameter; aduration for a single DCI; DCI occurrence occasions; a frequency domainresource unit; and a frequency hopping pattern.